What is the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance (CWA) Scholarship Program?
The Calaveras Winegrape Alliance (CWA) is a non-profit organization, established in 1989 to support our family growers and winemakers with education, marketing and community relations services. Each year the CWA awards scholarships to high school students pursuing a career in an Agricultural or Science related fields. This year, the CWA was able to award three, $1000 scholarships thanks to the generous support of our donors at the 2018 Calaveras Grape Stomp Auction. Money collected was used to directly fund the three scholarships.
Who won the 2019 Scholarships?
In May, the scholarships were awarded to Mia Remus and Sophia Schlenz of Calaveras High School as well as Kaegan Moore of Bret Harte High School.
Where are these scholarship recipients headed?
Mia Remus of Valley Springs will be furthering her education in Agricultural Business at a California State University, Chico. She wants to serve by advocating and educating the public on agriculture and the effects our growing population will have for the wine industry. While in high school Mia was extremely active in Future Farmers of America, being a Chapter Reporter, Chapter Vice President and in her senior year was the Chapter President and elected as the Delta Cal Sectional FFA Secretary. Mia also volunteered in her community and participated in the Calaveras Rotary Club and Lions Club Speech Contests - winning five times!
Sophia Schlenz of Mountain Ranch will be furthering her education in Environmental Science at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. During her two years spent educating elementary students on growing their own produce, Sophia saw a need for better education in the agricultural industry as well as more research needed to make agriculture greener, attainable and more affordable. Sophia served as a leader in several community clubs including Vice President of Future Farmers of America and Student Leader for the Lamb and Meal Poultry Co-Op. Sophia has a bright future ahead as she helps agriculture producers provide consumers better access to better produce!
Kaegen Moore of Copperopolis will be attending Modesto Junior College for two years where she will earn her Associate Degree in Science before transferring to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to further her education in Agriculture Business. Upon graduating Kaegan plans to pursue a career in Farm Land Appraisal so that she can continue to aid farmers and ranchers. During Kaegen's senior year she completed her second term as Future Farmers of America (FFA) Chapter President as well as being elected to Delta Cal Sectional FFA President. Her floriculture team won the 2018 California State Champion Floriculture Career Development Event and went on to place 6th in the nation her senior year. We sure hope Kaegen will return to Calaveras County to support our farmers and ranchers with land appraisals!
The Calaveras Winegrape Alliance is proud to support these three students this year and our local high school students each year in their pursuit to further their education and become leaders in the agricultural business. We are thankful to our loyal supporters and donors at the annual Grape Stomp and look forward to seeing you all once again on October 5th for the 26th Annual Event!
Special thanks to our Scholarship Committee:
We would also like to recognize our Scholarship Committee Members who spend countless hours reading all scholarship applications to ensure that the three scholarships are awarded to those students who best meet the criteria from year to year. A big round of applause to Jan Bissell, Diane Cornish, Brian Goss & Stuart Mast for a job well done!
For information on how you can support the CWA in these efforts please contact us at 209.728.9467 or info@calaveraswines.org.
